Image transfer over mobile radio network

ABSTRACT

To enable low cost distribution of pictures from a mobile entity that incorporates digital camera functionality, the mobile entity ( 20 ) generates both a high resolution picture image ( 81 ) and a low resolution thumbnail ( 80 ). This thumbnail ( 80 ) is distributed via a mobile radio infrastructure to a service system ( 40 ) that then transfers the thumbnail to specified recipients ( 60 ). After viewing the thumbnail ( 80 ), each recipient ( 60 ) indicates to the service system ( 40 ) whether they wish to receive the high resolution image ( 81 ) and, if so, whether it is to be transferred immediately or at the next. The service system ( 40 ) effects transfer of the high resolution image ( 81 ) accordingly. In other embodiments, distribution of the high resolution image is effected independently of the service system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and service system fortransferring image data from a mobile user, through a mobile radioinfrastructure, to a recipient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Communication infrastructures suitable for mobile users (inparticular, though not exclusively, cellular radio infrastructures) havenow become widely adopted. Whilst the primary driver has been mobiletelephony, the desire to implement mobile data-based services over theseinfrastructures, has led to the rapid development of data-capable bearerservices across such infrastructures. This has opened up the possibilityof many Internet-based services being available to mobile users.

[0003] By way of example, FIG. 1 shows one form of known communicationinfrastructure for mobile users providing both telephony and data-bearerservices. In this example, a mobile entity 20, provided with a radiosubsystem 22 and a phone subsystem 23, communicates with the fixedinfrastructure of GSM PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) 10 to providebasic voice telephony services. In addition, the mobile entity 20includes a data-handling subsystem 25 interworking, via data interface24, with the radio subsystem 22 for the transmission and reception ofdata over a data-capable bearer service provided by the PLMN; thedata-capable bearer service enables the mobile entity 20 to communicatewith a service system 40 connected to the public Internet 39. The datahandling subsystem 25 supports an operating environment 26 in whichapplications run, the operating environment including an appropriatecommunications stack.

[0004] More particularly, the fixed infrastructure 10 of the GSM PLMNcomprises one or more Base Station Subsystems (BSS) 11 and a Network andSwitching Subsystem NSS 12. Each BSS 11 comprises a Base StationController (BSC) 14 controlling multiple Base Transceiver Stations (BTS)13 each associated with a respective “cell” of the radio network. Whenactive, the radio subsystem 22 of the mobile entity 20 communicates viaa radio link with the BTS 13 of the cell in which the mobile entity iscurrently located. As regards the NSS 12, this comprises one or moreMobile Switching Centers (MSC) 15 together with other elements such asVisitor Location Registers 32 and Home Location Register 32.

[0005] When the mobile entity 20 is used to make a normal telephonecall, a traffic circuit for carrying digitised voice is set up throughthe relevant BSS 11 to the NSS 12 which is then responsible for routingthe call to the target phone (whether in the same PLMN or in anothernetwork).

[0006] With respect to data transmission to/from the mobile entity 20,in the present example three different data-capable bearer services aredepicted though other possibilities exist. A first data-capable bearerservice is available in the form of a Circuit Switched Data (CSD)service; in this case a full traffic circuit is used for carrying dataand the MSC 32 routes the circuit to an InterWorking Function IWF 34 theprecise nature of which depends on what is connected to the other sideof the IWF. Thus, IWF could be configured to provide direct access tothe public Internet 39 (that is, provide functionality similar to anIAP - Internet Access Provider IAP). Alternatively, the IWF could simplybe a modem connecting to a PSTN; in this case, Internet access can beachieved by connection across the PSTN to a standard IAP.

[0007] A second, low bandwidth, data-capable bearer service is availablethrough use of the Short Message Service that passes data carried insignalling channel slots to an SMS unit which can be arranged to provideconnectivity to the public Internet 39.

[0008] A third data-capable bearer service is provided in the form ofGPRS (General Packet Radio Service which enables IP (or X.25) packetdata to be passed from the data handling system of the mobile entity 20,via the data interface 24, radio subsystem 21 and relevant BSS 11, to aGPRS network 17 of the PLMN 10 (and vice versa). The GPRS network 17includes a SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) 18 interfacing BSC 14 withthe network 17, and a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) interfacing thenetwork 17 with an external network (in this example, the publicInternet 39). Full details of GPRS can be found in the ETSI (EuropeanTelecommunications Standards Institute) GSM 03.60 specification. UsingGPRS, the mobile entity 20 can exchange packet data via the BSS 11 andGPRS network 17 with entities connected to the public Internet 39.

[0009] The data connection between the PLMN 10 and the Internet 39 willgenerally be through a firewall 35 with proxy and/or gatewayfunctionality.

[0010] Different data-capable bearer services to those described abovemay be provided, the described services being simply examples of what ispossible.

[0011] In FIG. 1, a service system 40 is shown connected to the Internet40, this service system being accessible to the OS/application 26running in the mobile entity by use of any of the data-capable bearerservices described above. The data-capable bearer services could equallyprovide access to a service system that is within the domain of the PLMNoperator or is connected to another public or private data network.

[0012] With regard to the OS/application software 26 running in the datahandling subsystem 25 of the mobile entity 20, this could, for example,be a WAP application running on top of a WAP stack where “WAP” is theWireless Application Protocol standard. Details of WAP can be found, forexample, in the book “Official Wireless Application Protocol” WirelessApplication Protocol Forum, Ltd published 1999 Wiley ComputerPublishing. Where the OS/application software is WAP compliant, thefirewall will generally also serve as a WAP proxy and gateway. Ofcourse, OS/application 26 can comprise other functionality (for example,an e-mail client) instead of, or additional to, the WAP functionality.

[0013] The mobile entity 20 may take many different forms. For example,it could be two separate units such as a mobile phone (providingelements 22-24) and a mobile PC (data-handling system 25) coupled by anappropriate link (wireline, infrared or even short range radio systemsuch as Bluetooth). Alternatively, mobile entity 20 could be a singleunit such as a mobile phone with WAP functionality. Of course, if onlydata transmission/reception is required (and not voice), the phonefunctionality 24 can be omitted; an example of this is a PDA withbuilt-in GSM data-capable functionality whilst another example is adigital camera (the data-handling subsystem) also with built-in GSMdata-capable functionality enabling the upload of digital images fromthe camera to a storage server.

[0014] Whilst the above description has been given with reference to aPLMN based on GSM technology, it will be appreciated that many othercellular radio technologies exist and can typically provide the sametype of functionality as described for the GSM PLMN 10.

[0015] The present invention relates to the situation where the mobileentity incorporates camera functionality - for example, by theintegration of a digital camera in a cell phone or by operativelyconnecting a digital camera and cell phone. If the user, having taken aphotograph, wishes to share it immediately with a friend by sending itover the mobile radio infrastructure using a data-capable bearerservice, the user will be faced with a substantial cost due to the timeneeded to transmit the image data. Furthermore, a user will generallywant to send more than one picture to more than one friend - certainlyduring a holiday - so that the transmission costs become a substantialdeterrent to such activity.

[0016] One possible way of trying to handle this problem is to agree adeal with cellular operators to get a low tariff if the traffic isdeferred for example into the middle of the night. Another approach isan auction system with variable tariffs. This would either require theoperator to offer data service at variable (gently decreasing rates withdecreasing demand) or for users to bid for the tariff they are willingto pay. With good design the operator could ensure their high revenuevoice and priority data traffic is not impacted and new traffic id drawnin. However, this solution requires intervention and co-operation byeach mobile network provider and yet may still result in unnecessaryexpense to the user as the recipient of the transmitted picture may notbe interested in the picture sent.

[0017] It is an object of the present invention to provide a way oftransferring image data from a mobile entity that permits costs to bekept down whilst offering flexibility of implementation, not least byminimising reliance on involvement of the PLMN operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] According one aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of transferring image data from a mobile entity through amobile radio infrastructure to a recipient, the method involving:

[0019] (a) taking a photograph using camera functionality of the mobileentity and providing low-resolution image data and high-resolution imagedata of what was photographed;

[0020] (b) transferring the low-resolution image data from the mobileentity, through the mobile radio infrastructure, to a service system;and

[0021] (c) transferring the low-resolution image data from the servicesystem to at least one recipient, over a communications system (whichmay be the mobile radio infrastructure or another network) to which theservice system is connected.

[0022] The high resolution image data is then subsequently sent to all,or selected, recipients of the low-resolution image data. Thehigh-resolution image data can be transferred independently of theservice system though preferably the latter is also used to transfer thehigh resolution image data.

[0023] Preferably, on receiving the low resolution image data, therecipient returns a response indicating whether or not they wish toreceive the high resolution image data and, if so, whether it should besent immediately regardless of cost or deferred for sending at alow-cost tariff.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of transferring image data from a mobile entitythrough a mobile radio infrastructure to a recipient, the methodinvolving:

[0025] (a) taking a photograph using camera functionality of the mobileentity and providing first image data and second image data respectivelycorresponding to low and high resolution images of what wasphotographed;

[0026] (b) pushing the first image data from the mobile entity, throughthe mobile radio infrastructure, to a service system;

[0027] (c) pushing the first image data from the service system to atleast one recipient specified to the service system, over acommunications system to which the service system is connected.

[0028] (d) receiving back, at the service system, a response sent by anyof each of said at least one recipient, for indicating whether or notthat recipient wishes to receive the second image data corresponding tothe first image data transferred to the recipient in step (c) and, ifso, whether transfer should be effected immediately or delayed until alow-tariff period of operation of the mobile radio infrastructure; and

[0029] (e)

[0030] (i) where a recipient has requested immediate transfer of thesecond image data, immediately transferring the second image data fromthe mobile entity, via the mobile radio infrastructure, to the servicesystem and from there to that recipient; and

[0031] (ii) where a recipient has requested low tariff transfer, pullingthe second image data from the mobile entity, via the mobile radioinfrastructure, to the service system during a said low tariff period,and thereafter transferring the second image data to the recipient overa communications link.

[0032] The present invention also contemplates a service system andmobile entity implementing the functionality required of them by theforegoing methods of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] A method and service-system, both embodying the presentinvention, for transferring image data from a mobile entity to arecipient, will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, withreference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

[0034]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a known communications infrastructureusable for transferring voice and data to/from a mobile entity;

[0035]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the incorporation of a service systemembodying the present invention into the FIG. 1 arrangement;

[0036]FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting the main processes that may beincorporated into methods embodying the present invention, differentembodiments differing in the combination of processes employed;

[0037]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing to a smaller scale a representation ofthe FIG. 3 diagram but showing only those elements used by a firstspecific embodiment of the invention;

[0038]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing to a smaller scale a representation ofthe FIG. 3 diagram but showing only those elements used by a secondspecific embodiment of the invention;

[0039]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing to a smaller scale a representation ofthe FIG. 3 diagram but showing only those elements used by a thirdspecific embodiment of the invention;

[0040]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing to a smaller scale a representation ofthe FIG. 3 diagram but showing only those elements used by a fourthspecific embodiment of the invention;

[0041]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing to a smaller scale a representation ofthe FIG. 3 diagram but showing only those elements used by a fifthspecific embodiment of the invention; and

[0042]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing to a smaller scale a representation ofthe FIG. 3 diagram but showing only those elements used by a sixthspecific embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0043] The embodiments of the invention to be described below allgenerally give effect to the following scenario. An individual(generically, “user”) take a photograph on a digital camera. Thecaptured image is immediately viewable on a LCD screen of the camera bythe user and user's companions. A low resolution version (a “thumbnail”)of the captured image is also distributed to one or more specifiedremote parties (herein, “recipients”) via a mobile radio connection andthe mobile radio infrastructure; the recipients may, for example, beother users of mobile radio equipment provided with LCD viewing screens,or parties connected to the Internet or an e-mail network. Theserecipients can later be provided with a full (high) resolution imagecorresponding to the thumbnail, this high resolution image beingprovided by low cost transmission means or even simply in hard copyform. Provision may be made for the recipient to ask for an immediatehigh resolution copy regardless of the current tariff rate for using themobile radio infrastructure; in this case, the high resolution image istransferred straight away to the requesting recipient.

[0044] The terms high resolution and low resolution as used herein are,of course relative terms. Thus, by way of example, if the same pixeldensity is assumed, the high resolution image may give a 10″ by 8″printable image as compared to a 2.5″ by 2″ printable image for the lowresolution image.

[0045] In accordance with the present invention, a service system isprovided to facilitate implementation of the above features. The generalform of one implementation of this service system is depicted in FIG. 2which also serves to illustrate the main data transfer paths.

[0046] More particularly, in the FIG. 2 arrangement, a WAP clientapplication running on the data handling system 25 of mobile entity 20is operative to enable image data to be passed to an Internet-connectedservice system 40 by using a data-capable bearer service of PLMN 10 toprovide data connectivity to a WAP internet gateway 35 (see path 50).The use of WAP is merely by way of example and alternative mechanismscan be used, such as an e-mail service.

[0047] The mobile entity 20 can be implemented in a number of ways. Forexample, entity 20 can be constituted by a cellular phone and a separatedigital camera which are linked by an IR, wire or RF link.Alternatively, the digital camera may be fully integrated into aWAP-enabled cell phone (as illustrated in FIG. 2). Whatever the exactphysical implementation the digital camera functionality 28 willgenerally also include means 29 for reviewing a taken photograph on alocal (probably small) screen.

[0048] The service system 40, here shown as connected to the internet39, comprises a web server 41 providing a front end for an image-datamanagement subsystem 45 which has a number of associated data stores,namely an image data store 42 for storing high and low resolution imagedata, a recipient address data store 43, and a recipient transferrequest store 44. The subsystem 45 also has access to a tariff database46 storing tariff data for the PLMN 10, and potentially interacts withthe PLMN billing system 47.

[0049] Two recipients 60 are illustrated in FIG. 2 (for convenience, theterm “recipient” is used generally in this description to refer both tothe receiving device and to the associated user, it being clear from thecontext whether the device or user - or the combination - is beingconsidered). Recipient 60A is shown as a WAP-enabled mobile deviceaccessible via PLMN 10 and WAP gateway 35 from the service system 40(see dotted path 51); recipient 60A is for example of the same generalform as mobile entity 20. Recipient 60B is an internet-connected device,such as a network-connected PC, which can be accessed from the servicesubsystem using a standard application protocol such as HTTP, FTTP, orSMTP (see dotted path 52).

[0050] Operation of the FIG. 2 arrangement is as follows. When a usertakes a digital photograph with the digital camera 28 in mobile entity20, the user can view it locally on the image viewer 29. The user canthen choose to share it with one or more other parties, namelyrecipients 60A and B. To do this, the user specifies the intendedrecipients and then presses a send button (soft or hard implementation).This causes the mobile entity 20 to contact the service system 40 (overpath 50) and pass it a request to send a thumbnail of the picture torecipients 60A and B. The request, sent using WAP/HTTP protocols willcontain the desired destination (telephone number, network address, . ..), a thumbnail image 80 suitable for a small size viewer, a referencenumber for the full resolution image, and any further details of thefull sized image that are useful for management (Size, resolution etc.)

[0051] The management subsystem 45 of service system 40 stores therecipient address details in store 43 and the thumbnail 80 and relateddata in store 42. Management subsystem 45 then attempts to send thethumbnail to recipients 60A and 60B using a suitable push protocol.. Inaddition to the thumbnail image, the image reference number, sourceaddress (and telephone number if different) for the image are also sentto the recipients. The thumbnail can then be viewed by the users ofrecipient devices 60A, 60B.

[0052] The image reference number (image ID) can conveniently take theform of a hash of the thumbnail image, this hash being calculated by thedata handling subsystem 25 of mobile entity 20.

[0053] If either recipient 60A or B wants a full resolution image theycan ask for this by sending a request to the service system 40 inresponse to the thumbnail push, this request including the image ID forthe image concerned. Management subsystem 45 temporarily stores suchrequests and pulls the full resolution image from mobile entity 20either immediately at the prevailing tariff rate for transfers acrossPLMN 10 or at a later time when a reduced tariff is available. Therequired full resolution image is identified to mobile entity 20 bymeans of the corresponding image ID. Once the service subsystem hasretrieved the high resolution image, it pushes the image to therecipients that have requested it, as indicated by the requests held instore 44.

[0054] Whether retrieval of the full resolution image from mobile entity20 is done immediately or is deferred to a low tariff period, can bepre-determined or can be specified by the requesting recipients. Themanagement subsystem 45 has knowledge of the prevailing tariffs fromtariff database 46. Where recipient 60B, for example, requests immediatetransfer of the full resolution image but recipient 60A only requireslow-tariff transfer, management subsystem 45 is preferably arranged toimmediately pull the full resolution image from mobile entity 20 andpass it to recipient 60B with the cost for the transfer over path 50through PLMN 10 being billed to recipient 60B - this requires billingdata to be passed from management subsystem 45 to the billing system 47(and also requires that recipient 60B has some billing relationship withthe PLMN operator). As regards recipient 60A, although the fullresolution image now resides in the service system 40, transfer torecipient 60A may still need to be delayed since this transfer is alsothrough the PLMN and should be left to be done during a low-tariffperiod as requested (if recipient 60A was accessible by a low costroute, such as by direct internet access, then the transfer could havebeen done without delay).

[0055] Recipients, in requesting a full resolution image, can alsospecify other destinations to which the full resolution image should besent; these destinations would typically be accessible at low transfercosts. Thus, recipient 60A may ask for the full resolution image to besent by e-mail to his/her home e-mail account. Indeed, the recipient mayspecify that they want the full resolution image to be sent to them as aprint though the ordinary mail in which case the service system may, ormay not, be involved in transferring the full resolution image (the userof mobile entity 20 could do the printing and mailing or could contractwith service system 40 to do this - in the former case, the user wouldneed to be told of the recipient's request, whilst in the latter casethe full resolution image would still need to be downloaded to theservice system).

[0056] Of course, the user of mobile entity may decide that he/shewishes to send full resolution images to all those to whom the thumbnailhas been sent without seeking a response as to the recipients wishesbased on having seen the thumbnail. In this case, assuming that the userwishes to do this at low cost, the user will probably defer sending thefull resolution image until a cheaper transfer route is available (forexample, via the PSTN) - if the user wishes to do the transferthemselves then it will generally be helpful to provide the servicesystem with the capability of serving back to the user, upon request,the original list of recipients pertaining to the correspondingthumbnail (this list being held in store 43).

[0057] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there are alarger number of possible implementations. FIG. 3 is presented to helpin understanding the range of combinations possible. FIG. 3 is adiagrammatic representation of the overall image transfer arrangementand shows the three main participating entities, namely the mobileentity 20, the service system 40 and the recipient 60, the manner ofdata transfer between these entities not being detailed in FIG. 3 forclarity. FIG. 3 also shows the division of the image transfer operationinto three phases, namely:

[0058] Phase I - the transfer of the thumbnail (low resolution image 80)from the mobile entity 20 to the recipient 60 via the service system;

[0059] Phase II - the transfer back of the recipients response, if any,at least to the service system;

[0060] Phase III - the transfer of the full (high) resolution image fromthe mobile entity to the recipient 60 via the service system.

[0061] As will become clear below, in some embodiments the second andthird phases are effected independently of the service system 40 and,indeed, the second phase may, in some case, be omitted entirely.Furthermore, the second and third phase may involve an intermediateentity 118 (shown by diagonal hatching in FIG. 3) acting for the mobileentity in relation to receiving the recipient's response and sending outthe full resolution image; thus for example, the intermediate elementmay be an internet-connected PC to which the mobile entity can downloadthe full resolution images by a local link (such as a USB connection).Similarly, the full resolution image may be sent to an alternativerecipient device 119 (also shown by diagonal hatching in FIG. 3) to thatwhich received the initial thumbnail.

[0062] Generally, the individual data transfers to and from the servicesystem can be push or pull data transfers (that is, initiated by thesource entity or requested by the receiving entity). This gives rise toa substantial number of possible combinations as will be seen below.

[0063] Phase I - Transfer of Thumbnail

[0064] Considering Figure in more detail, after the user has taken apicture, producing high resolution image (“HR”) 81, the user may decideto send the picture to recipient 60. The user indicates this to themobile entity 20 (input 100), and the entity 20 then both (i) generatesthe low-resolution thumbnail image (“LI”) 81 together with an identifier(image ID) identifying the picture concerned, and (ii) asks the user tospecify the intended recipient. The user specifies the recipients eitherby setting in their name and address or by selection from a list heldeither by the mobile entity itself or in store 43 of the service system;in this latter case, the mobile entity must first connect with theservice system and enter into a dialogue to identify the requiredrecipient. Once the recipient (or recipients) has been identified, theuser tells the entity to proceed. If not already connected to theservice system (for selecting recipients from a list held by thesystem), the mobile entity now connects to the service system and passesit the thumbnail image, the picture ID and the recipient data (unlessthe latter has already been established by dialogue with the servicesystem). Arrow 82 in FIG. 3 indicates the transfer of the image data andarrow 101 the transfer of recipient data. Rather than the userspecifying the recipients, these could be predetermined and already knowto the service system through a pre-selection process (arrow 102).Process 90 running in data handling subsystem 25 controls the foregoingoperations for sending the thumbnail to the service system.

[0065] Process 91 run by the image-data management subsystem 45 ofservice system 40 takes care of receiving, storing and distributing thethumbnail 80, the transfer to the recipient of the thumbnail image data(+image ID) being depicted by arrow 83. A process 92 running in therecipient 60 receives and stores the thumbnail for display to therecipient user.

[0066] In the foregoing, the thumbnail image data has been described asbeing pushed from the mobile entity 20 to the service system 40 and thenpushed again from the service system to the recipient 60. In fact, it isalso possible to arrange for the thumbnail data to be pulled from themobile entity by the service system and/or pulled from the servicesystem by the recipient. Where the thumbnail is pulled from the servicesystem, the recipients have preferably already been identified so thatthe pull operation can be effected automatically without userintervention. An example of where it may be useful to pull thethumbnails to the service system is where a large number of pictureshave been taken and it is desired to transfer thumbnails of all of themto the service system during a low tariff period - the service systemcould be tasked with effecting this pull at an appropriate time. Thepulled thumbnails can then be pushed to the specified recipients or madeavailable for access from the service system by those recipients, thelatter scenario corresponding to recipient pull of the thumbnails.

[0067] As indicated above, more than one thumbnail can be sent during atransfer operation, each thumbnail being identified by the correspondingimage ID. This involves deferring the transfer decision from when animage has just been taken to some subsequent time. The operation ofselecting the images to be sent is controlled by process 90 and caninvolve selection of all previously unsent images, the selection of asubset such as images generated the same day, or the individualselection of images. It is also possible to go to the other extreme andhave the thumbnail of an image automatically sent to pre-specifiedrecipient immediately a new picture is taken.

[0068] Phase II - Recipient's Response

[0069] After receiving and viewing the thumbnail 80 of an image, therecipient 60 is preferably given the opportunity to indicate whether ornot he/she wishes to receive a full resolution version of the image and,if so, whether that version is to be sent immediately or during a lowtariff period. The recipient can also been given the opportunity tospecify how and where they want to receive the full resolution image(for example, in print form to their home address, in an e-mail to theiroffice address, etc.). The collection of the recipient's response (arrow103) and its return to the service system 40 (arrow 104) is theresponsibility of process 93. Generally the recipient's response will bepushed to the service rather than pulled by the latter (though this isalso possible). The response will, of course, include the ID (or IDs) ofthe images(s) of interest to the recipient.

[0070] A process 94 running on the service system is responsible forreceiving the recipient's response and collating it with responses fromother recipients of the same thumbnail image (if any).The collated andconsolidated response data is then passed either to a full-resolutionimage distribution process 97 of the service system (arrow 106) or backto the mobile entity 20 (arrow 105) depending on who is to control thedistribution of the full resolution image (as will be seen, it is alsopossible to involve both of the entities 20 and 97 in this operation).Of course, even if full-image distribution is wholly under the controlof the process 97, the response data can still be returned forinformation purposes to the mobile entity 20.

[0071] In service system 40, the transfer of response data from theservice system to the mobile entity is under the control of process 95(which generally concerns itself with control data exchange with mobileentity); process 99 in mobile entity 20 is responsible for receiving theresponse data. The response data, if provided to the mobile entity, canbe pushed by the service system or pulled by the mobile entity (in thislatter case, the response data is temporarily stored by the servicesystem, for example in store 44). Rather than the response data beingpassed to the mobile entity, it may be transferred to an associatedentity 118 (this would normally only be the case where that entity isarranged to pull the response data).

[0072] Phase III - Transfer of High Resolution Image

[0073] If control of the distribution of the high-resolution image datais to be effected wholly by process 97, then this process takes thecollated recipient response data and determines whether immediatetransfer is required to any of the recipients - if so, the process 97pulls the full resolution image from the mobile entity 20 (arrow 84),temporarily puts it in store 42, and then pushes it to the recipientconcerned (arrow 85). If another recipient has also requested the imagebut as a low tariff transfer, then since the image has already beenpulled to the service system, the process 97 can determine whether ornot to immediately push the image to the low-tariff-requesting recipientsimply on the basis of whether or not this would require transfer overthe mobile network and, if so, whether a low tariff period is current.If the collated response data indicates that only low-tariff transfershave been requested, process 97 waits until a low tariff period beforepulling the full-resolution image from the mobile entity and pushing itto the recipient(s).

[0074] Where control of the distribution of a requested full-resolutionimage lies with the mobile entity 20 (or its associated entity 118 towhich the images have been transferred), then a process 96 of the entity20/118 oversees the distribution on the basis of the recipient datatransferred from the service system. As already indicated above, thedistribution of the full resolution images may or may not involve theservice system; if the service system is involved, then process 96pushes the full resolution image data to the service system (arrow 84)together with instructions about how, when and where to distribute theimage (arrow 111). The process 96 may have modified the collatedrecipient requests received from service system in dependence on userinput (arrow 80); this modification can involve the addition and/ordeletion of transfer requests or the changing of details of a request.

[0075] Address data for transfer of the full-resolution images is eithersupplied from the address data store 43 to the process 96/97 (arrows107, 108) or such data may be contained in the responses data itself orbe set into process 96 by the user (arrow 110). Tariff data is availableto the process 97 (and possibly also process 96) form the tariffdatabase 46 or any other suitable source (arrow 115).

[0076] The distribution of the high-resolution images can also beeffected without any recipient responses. For example, it could bedecided that the high resolution image is to be distributed to allrecipients of the thumbnail image.

[0077] With respect to transfer of the full-resolution image from theservice system to the recipient 60, image receipt is managed by process98. As already indicated, the receiving entity can be a different entity119 from the recipient of the thumbnail, this different entity eitherbeing specified in the response data or already being known to theprocess 96/97 controlling full-image distribution. Process 98 can alsobe arranged to pull the full-resolution image from the service system(or from entity 118 or 20) at a time convenient for process 98 ratherhaving the image pushed to it.

[0078] Where full-image distribution is effected by the service system,since distribution can be spread over a period of time (for example,whilst awaiting a low tariff connection to particular recipients), itmay be helpful to provide distribution progress data back to the mobileentity 20 or associated entity 118 (see arrow 112), this data beingeither pulled from, or pushed by, the service system 40.

[0079] Finally, in order to empty the digital camera of image datawhilst saving the latter, the process 97 can be arranged to upload allfull-resolution images from the mobile entity 20 during a low-tariffperiod and store the image data in store 42, this uploading beingcarried out regardless of whether or not a recipient has requested anyof the images.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0080] FIGS. 4 to 9 illustrate six possible embodiments each making useof a different combination of the above-described features; FIGS. 4 to 9take the form of a reduced version of FIG. 3 but showing only thoseparts relevant to the embodiment concerned and omitting certain detailsfor clarity.

[0081] The FIG. 4 embodiment shows the simplest case in which thumbnaildata is first pushed to the service system and then from there to therecipient(s) as specified by the mobile-entity user. At a later time,the user prints the full resolution images using printer 118 anddelivers the prints by hand (or mail) to the recipients of thethumbnails. No recipient response data is collected in this embodimentand there is no need to use an image ID.

[0082] The FIG. 5 embodiment is a more sophisticated version of the FIG.4 embodiment and involves the collection of recipient response data,this data being passed to the service system where it is temporarilystored. The mobile-entity user in due course uses PC 118 to retrieve theresponse data from the service system, this data then being used tocontrol the push distribution of the high-resolution image data over theinternet to requesting recipients (the mage data having been transferredby a local link form the mobile entity 20 to PC 118)

[0083] A typical scenario where the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 mightbe used is as follows. While on holiday a series of digital photographsare taken by mobile-entity user and a small number are selected forsending to a relative. These are marked for sending and thumbnails ofthese images are then transmitted to the service system which pushes tothe specified relative of the user. At the destination the thumbnailsare viewed either on paper or via a specialized viewer (own screen, viaTV, . . .). In the case of FIG. 4 no response data is collected whereasfor the FIG. 5 embodiment such data is sent to the service system. Afterthe holiday, the photographer loads the image data either to a printeror to their PC and arranges for distribution to the relative either ofall the images as prints (FIG. 4) or selected images by electronictransfer over a low cost transfer path (FIG. 5).

[0084] The FIG. 6 embodiment, like that of FIG. 4, involves the push ofthumbnail images from the mobile entity 20 to the service system 40, thepush of the thumbnails from the service system to the specifiedrecipients 60, and no response data collection. However, unlike in theFIG. 4 embodiment, the FIG. 7 embodiment involves, for each distributedthumbnail, the corresponding full resolution image data beingdistributed automatically by the service system to the same list ofrecipients as used for the thumbnail. This distribution of thefull-resolution image is effected during low tariff periods with theservice system awaiting such a period before pulling the full-resolutionimage from the mobile entity and pushing it to the recipient(s).

[0085] The FIG. 7 embodiment involves specified thumbnails being pulledfrom the mobile entity to the service system for pushing to apredetermined list of recipients. Again, no response data is collected.In due course, all the full-resolution images held in the mobile entity20 are transferred to PC 118 and pushed to the service system; therecipients of the thumbnails can then pull the fall resolution imagesfrom the service system.

[0086] In the FIG. 8 embodiment, thumbnails are pushed to the servicesystem 40 which then pushes them to a pre-designated list of recipients.Response data from these recipients 60 is then passed via the servicesystem 40 to the mobile entity 20. The response data includes bids forthe full-resolution images and the mobile-entity user examines thesebids before deciding who should receive the full resolution version ofeach image. The user then initiates full-resolution image push from themobile entity to the service system together with the transfer of dataconcerning who is to receive which image. The service system then pushesthe full resolution images to the appropriate recipients. Such anarrangement could be used, for example, by free-lance photographers, thethumbnails being sent to newspaper offices which then bid for thefull-resolution images.

[0087] The FIG. 9 embodiment involves pushing thumbnails to the servicesystem and from the service system to the specified recipients. Responsedata is passed back to the service system, this data includinginformation as to whether a recipient wants the full-resolution imageand, if so, whether it should be transferred immediately or during a lowtariff period. The service system is responsible for pulling thefull-resolution images from the mobile entity and distributing them inaccordance with the response data by service push.

[0088] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the specifics of the mobile entity and communication infrastructureshown in FIG. 2 and the generalisations discussed above in relation toFIG. 1 regarding these elements apply equally to the operational contextof the service system 40. Furthermore, whilst the service system 40 isshown as connected to the public Internet, it could be connected to theGPRS network 17 or to another fixed data network interfacing directly orindirectly with the network 17 or network 39.

1. A method of transferring image data from a mobile entity through amobile radio infrastructure to a recipient, the method involving: (a)taking a photograph using camera functionality of the mobile entity andproviding first image data and second image data respectivelycorresponding to low and high resolution images of what wasphotographed; (b) transferring the first image data from the mobileentity, through the mobile radio infrastructure, to a service system;and (c) transferring the first image data from the service system to atleast one recipient specified to the service system, over acommunications system to which the service system is connected.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1 , further involving receiving back, at theservice system, a response sent by any of each of said at least onerecipient, for indicating whether the recipient wishes to receive thesecond image data corresponding to the first image data transferred tothe recipient in step (c).
 3. A method according to claim 2 , whereinsaid response includes a bid price for the photograph.
 4. A methodaccording to claim 1 , further involving subsequently transferring thesecond image data, or a photograph produced from it, from the mobileentity to the or each said recipient independently of the servicesystem.
 5. A method according to claim 1 , further involving (d)receiving back, at the service system, a response sent by any of each ofsaid at least one recipient, for indicating whether that recipientwishes to receive the second image data corresponding to the first imagedata transferred to the recipient in step (c); (e) making availableresponses received by the service system to a control entity that isindependent of the service system; (f) transferring the second imagedata, or a photograph produced from it, from the mobile entity to the oreach said recipient specified for receiving the second image data bysaid control entity.
 6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein saidresponse includes a bid price for the photograph.
 7. A method accordingto claim 1 , further involving subsequently transferring the secondimage data from the mobile entity to the service system and from thereto the or each said recipient.
 8. A method according to claim 7 ,wherein transfer of the second image data to a recipient involvestransfer via the mobile radio infrastructure, either in transfer to, orin transfer from, the service system.
 9. A method according to claim 8 ,wherein the service system monitors the tariff rates in the mobile radioinfrastructure and initiates transfer of the second image data from themobile entity, via the mobile radio infrastructure, to the servicesystem when the tariff rates are low.
 10. A method according to claim 7, wherein transfer of the second image data to the service system andfrom there to an intended recipient of this data is effected in one ofthe following ways: pushed by the mobile entity to the service systemand then pushed by the service system to the recipient; pushed by themobile entity to the service system and subsequently pulled from theservice system by the recipient; pulled from the mobile entity by theservice system and then pushed by the service system to the recipient;pulled from the mobile entity by the service system and subsequentlypulled from the service system by the recipient.
 11. A method accordingto claim 7 , wherein information concerning the progress of distributionof the second image data to the intended recipients of this data is madeavailable by the service system.
 12. A method according to claim 1 ,further involving (d) receiving back, at the service system, a responsesent by any of each of said at least one recipient, for indicatingwhether that recipient wishes to receive the second image datacorresponding to the first image data transferred to the recipient instep (c); (e) making available responses received by the service systemto a control entity that is independent of the service system; (f)transferring the second image data from the mobile entity to the servicesystem and from there to the or each said recipient specified forreceiving the second image data by said control entity.
 13. A methodaccording to claim 12 , wherein transfer of the second image data to arecipient involves transfer via the mobile radio infrastructure, eitherin transfer to, or in transfer from, the service system.
 14. A methodaccording to claim 13 , wherein the service system monitors the tariffrates in the mobile radio infrastructure and initiates transfer of thesecond image data from the mobile entity, via the mobile radioinfrastructure, to the service system when the tariff rates are low. 15.A method according to claim 12 , wherein said response includes a bidprice for the photograph.
 16. A method according to claim 12 , wherein:transfer of the second image data to a recipient involves transfer viathe mobile radio infrastructure, either in transfer to, or in transferfrom, the service system; the service system monitors the tariff ratesin the mobile radio infrastructure; said response includes an indicationas to whether the recipient wants to receive the second image dataimmediately or whether transfer involving the mobile radioinfrastructure is only to be effected during a low-tariff period; for arecipient who has indicated that transfer through the mobile radioinfrastructure is only to be effected during a low transfer period, theservice system initiates the relevant transfer during such periodunless, in the case of transfer through the mobile radio infrastructureto the service system, such transfer has already been effected foranother recipient that had indicated immediate transfer was required.17. A method according to claim 12 , wherein transfer of the secondimage data to the service system and from there to an intended recipientof this data is effected in one of the following ways: pushed by themobile entity to the service system and then pushed by the servicesystem to the recipient; pushed by the mobile entity to the servicesystem and subsequently pulled from the service system by the recipient;pulled from the mobile entity by the service system and then pushed bythe service system to the recipient; pulled from the mobile entity bythe service system and subsequently pulled from the service system bythe recipient.
 18. A method according to claim 12 , wherein informationconcerning the progress of distribution of the second image data to theintended recipients of this data is made available by the servicesystem.
 19. A method according to claim 1 , further involving (d)receiving back, at the service system, a response sent by any of each ofsaid at least one recipient, for indicating whether that recipientwishes to receive the second image data corresponding to the first imagedata transferred to the recipient in step (c); (e) transferring thesecond image data from the mobile entity to the service system and fromthere to the or each said recipient who has indicated in their saidresponse that the recipient wishes to receive said second image data.20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein transfer of the secondimage data to a recipient involves transfer via the mobile radioinfrastructure, either in transfer to, or in transfer from, the servicesystem.
 21. A method according to claim 20 , wherein the service systemmonitors the tariff rates in the mobile radio infrastructure andinitiates transfer of the second image data from the mobile entity, viathe mobile radio infrastructure, to the service system when the tariffrates are low.
 22. A method according to claim 19 , wherein: transfer ofthe second image data to a recipient involves transfer via the mobileradio infrastructure, either in transfer to, or in transfer from, theservice system; the service system monitors the tariff rates in themobile radio infrastructure; said response includes an indication as towhether the recipient wants to receive the second image data immediatelyor whether transfer involving the mobile radio infrastructure is only tobe effected during a low-tariff period; for a recipient who hasindicated that transfer through the mobile radio infrastructure is onlyto be effected during a low transfer period, the service systeminitiates the relevant transfer during such period unless, in the caseof transfer through the mobile radio infrastructure to the servicesystem, such transfer has already been effected for another recipientthat had indicated immediate transfer was required.
 23. A methodaccording to claim 19 , wherein transfer of the second image data to theservice system and from there to an intended recipient of this data iseffected in one of the following ways: pushed by the mobile entity tothe service system and then pushed by the service system to therecipient; pushed by the mobile entity to the service system andsubsequently pulled from the service system by the recipient; pulledfrom the mobile entity by the service system and then pushed by theservice system to the recipient; pulled from the mobile entity by theservice system and subsequently pulled from the service system by therecipient.
 24. A method according to claim 19 , wherein informationconcerning the progress of distribution of the second image data to theintended recipients of this data is made available by the servicesystem.
 25. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the said at leastone recipient for said first image data is determined in one or more ofthe following ways: set in by the user of the mobile entity using thelatter; selected by the user of the mobile entity from recipient dataheld on the service system; preset in the service system.
 26. A methodaccording to claim 1 , wherein the identity of the said at least onerecipient in respect of said first image data is stored by the servicesystem and is available later for inspection.
 27. A method according toclaim 1 , wherein transfer of the first image data to the service systemand from there to an intended recipient of this data is effected in oneof the following ways: pushed by the mobile entity to the service systemand then pushed by the service system to the recipient; pushed by themobile entity to the service system and subsequently pulled from theservice system by the recipient; pulled from the mobile entity by theservice system and then pushed by the service system to the recipient;pulled from the mobile entity by the service system and subsequentlypulled from the service system by the recipient.
 28. A method oftransferring image data from a mobile entity through a mobile radioinfrastructure to a recipient, the method involving: (a) taking aphotograph using camera functionality of the mobile entity and providingfirst image data and second image data respectively corresponding to lowand high resolution images of what was photographed; (b) pushing thefirst image data from the mobile entity, through the mobile radioinfrastructure, to a service system; (c) pushing the first image datafrom the service system to at least one recipient specified to theservice system, over a communications system to which the service systemis connected. (d) receiving back, at the service system, a response sentby any of each of said at least one recipient, for indicating whether ornot that recipient wishes to receive the second image data correspondingto the first image data transferred to the recipient in step (c) and, ifso, whether transfer should be effected immediately or delayed until alow-tariff period of operation of the mobile radio infrastructure; and(e) (i) where a recipient has requested immediate transfer of the secondimage data, immediately transferring the second image data from themobile entity, via the mobile radio infrastructure, to the servicesystem and from there to that recipient; and (ii) where a recipient hasrequested low tariff transfer, pulling the second image data from themobile entity, via the mobile radio infrastructure, to the servicesystem during a said low tariff period, and thereafter transferring thesecond image data to the recipient over a communications link.
 29. Amethod of transferring image data from an originator to a recipient overa communications infrastructure using a service system, the methodinvolving: (a) receiving at the service system a low-resolution imagetransferred across the communications infrastructure from theoriginator; (b) pushing the low-resolution image data across saidcommunications infrastructure from the service system to at least onerecipient specified to the service system by said originator; (c)receiving back, at the service system, a response sent by any of each ofsaid at least one recipient, for indicating whether the recipient wishesto receive high-resolution image data corresponding to the first imagedata transferred to the recipient in step (b); (d) receiving at theservice system said high-resolution image data transferred across thecommunications infrastructure from the originator; and (e) transferringthe high-resolution image data across the communications infrastructurefrom the service system to at least one recipient whose response in step(c) indicated that they wished to receive said high-resolution imagedata.
 30. A method according to claim 29 , wherein the said at least onerecipient for said low-resolution image data is specified in one or moreof the following ways: set in by the originator at the time of sendingthe low-resolution image data; selected by the originator from recipientdata held on the service system; preset in the service system.
 31. Amethod according to claim 29 , wherein the high-resolution istransferred in step (d) to all recipients of the low-resolution imagewho indicated in step (c) that they wished to receive saidhigh-resolution image data.
 32. A method according to claim 29 , whereinthe originator ascertains from the service system which recipients haveindicated in step (c) that they wish to receive the high-resolutionimage data, the originator then indicating to the service system whichrecipient or recipients are to receive the high-resolution image data,and the service system carries out step (e) in accordance with theselection made by the originator.
 33. A method according to claim 29 ,wherein at least some of said responses provided in step (c) includebids for the high-resolution image, the service system being operativeto send the high-resolution image to the highest bid or bids.
 34. Amethod according to claim 29 , wherein a said response includes anindication as to whether the recipient wants to receive thehigh-resolution image data immediately or whether transfer is only to beeffected during a low-tariff period; the service system carries out thestep (e) transfer of high-resolution image data in accordance with saidindication contained in the response.
 35. A method according to claim 29, wherein information concerning the progress of distribution of thehigh-resolution image data to the intended recipients of this data ismade available by the service system to said originator.